I have been hunting in a 13 inch rule county. I had not been hunting in a few years and the last place I hunted must not have had this rule, but I've started researching this 13 inch rule and I'm sorry, but it's very easy to have a deer that looks like this
... and the inside spread be under 13 inches (image is from the TPWD web site). TPWD never says what to do if you use your best judgement and you accidentally shoot one that's 12 or 11 because it looked just like that image in your rule book to you through a scope from a bizzare angle from a deer stand at 250 yards in bad weather. Nor is there a defined list of fines I can find.

Fortunately, everything I have is legal, but there were times I could have easily shot something that was not legal. So thinking on this rule, I wondered what the consequesces are - even if your are honest about it.

From what I understand, the TPWD has the right to take away your gun, your truck and even your land in some instances, depending on the infraction. So does it make sense to hunt at all if the restrictions are so exacting that you need to follow your heard of deer around with a tape measure?

And what the hell is State restitution? Picking up trash on the highway?

When in doubt dont shoot.....

First off, welcome to the forum

It really all boils down the the GW and how you approach it. If you try to sneak it, you'll get everything thrown at you most likely. If your honest and approach them, that'll help you. There's a human factor and it depends on the GW. That said, I haven't heard of someone losing their gun, land, or vehicle because of AR. Usually I just hear about a fine, and it can be a hefty one. They're fairly serious about AR.

They are serious, and if there is any doubt whatsoever it's simple and that is don't shoot.
If you don't have a straight on look with the ears in the alert position there is no way to be sure and even then if it's close then the answer is again, don't shoot!
I've been hunting in an AR county for the last ten years and believe me when I tell you it's not an issue if you follow the rule above.

Thanks for the welcome and thanks for a great reply.

Thanks for the reply, Jimbo. I agree with the tactic of "if you're not sure". If you're hunting down in South Texas, I can see the rule applying very easily. In my area and other areas of Texas that are far more bushy, deer don't get such nice wide racks on average, so anyone hunting in these areas might have to "push the envelope" a little more than someone down south might have to if they want to hunt at all. Most deer in East/Central to East Texas tend to grow tall narrow racks and baskets close to the head... even old deer 250 lbs plus. It's not to say that there aren't wider racks, but everything on or near my place cuts the limit pretty close or closer than the big racks you see down in Zapata anyway, and has done so for the past 15 years - or since I've been there...

From what I gather, the typical punishment is confiscation of your deer and a ticket that costs several hundred dollars. Just going by what I recall reading from others who have been there.

When in doubt, best to let it walk because they only shrink when they hit the ground, they never get bigger.

Welcome. Restitution is you paying the state back for the animal you illegally harvested. Not picking up cans but by picking up your wallet.

lol, but the story gets taller..

Simple if you hunt were we do you will not have to worry about a 13" inside buck. They dont exist! After 5 years STILL HAVE NOT SHOT A BUCK

But that CANT be true... the rules were imposed to grow bigger, older deer, so by your account you have deer on your place that are AT LEAST 5 years old, so should be greater than 13".........OR they gene pool in your area will NEVER grow a deer over 13" so you will never be able to shoot one...


THAT is why I disagree with the AR's

Exactly, take a look at my nephews buck in the photo section. If AR's existed in Edwards county that buck would not be legal. Oh and I'm sure we have some older deer especialy bucks but nobody is seeing any with larger than 13"

We have lots of bucks in my country that are tall narrow racks and may not ever make 13" I don't like the 13" rule but I know overall its probably a good rule but it sucks in my neck of the woods sometimes

What's it like to pay for a lease year after year and not even see a legal 13 inch buck? I bet there's a few guys out there getting tired of spending $$$ for a lease, gas, corn, time, season after season and haven't had a legal buck in their scope.

Or what about the kid who wants to get his first buck but after a few seasons of never seeing a legal 13 inch buck he loses interest...

Poor idea for "management" of deer herd in too many TX counties.

There are counties in Texas that have a 13" minimum spread requirement for bucks????? Wheeeew. Glad I live in East Texas where we don't have to worry about that.

ah, i forgot there are counties without ARs. i saw that and was wondering but surely did not want to question on that thread.

Is it any different than having limits for fish? Hell my boy likes to drive 90 but we have speed LIMITS. THERE ARE LIMITS TO EVERYTHING GET OVER IT.

Young county warden wrote over thirty tickets for bucks under 13" at the processors last Monday. When asked about a buck that was 12 7/8 he said it ain't 13, the rule has been in place long enough if you question it don't shoot. It will either cut down the amount of bucks shot or cut down on the amount brought to the processors.

Thats kinda harsh. If they fought it the state would lose.

if you shoot one under 13" just process it yourself instead of taking it to processor where GW will be. As long as you use your best judgement and kill something that is fairly close to 13" i wouldnt worry. Were only human and our i eyes arent all the same. Sometimes law enforcement believes they are above humanity and fail to realize they are human too. I gurantee that all the GW out there that hunt and accidently kill one under 13" dont go yapping about it.

Four deer have been taken off of my property this year. One was a spike that was so old that it was toothless. The other 3 were bucks that made 13 but not by much. All 3 had odd racks like 2x5 and 2x6. One was a 1x5. According to my cams I have too many mature bucks that will never make it.

I'm all for giving AR's a chance but.........

BTW, no does have been seen traveling or at feeders since the season started.

I have heard rumors that ALL TEXAS counties are going to be AR in the future....... I hope not

What would it hurt to add "or atleast 5.5 yrs old" to the reg. otherwise it seems like you are protecting older deer with poor genetics.

Before AR's, I had a pretty good mix of wide bucks and narrow bucks. We're now in either our 4th or 5th year of AR's and I think I have enough photographic evidence to prove that if the goal was to produce more "trophy" deer, then it has failed my area.

I have still never seen a documented reason for the 13 inch rule. If the goal was to grow older bucks, I would agree that it has worked as I see a good many more mature bucks today than I did prior to AR's. However, while these bucks I'm seeing (both on the hoof and on camera) are older, they have inferior genetics for antler production compared to what I saw for the previous 20 years I hunted our property.

I wish some wildlife biologists from TPWD would come out and talk to some of us long-time landowners about what we're seeing. I know our local Game Wardens are seeing the same thing (they've told me) and don't think the rule is helping in our area.

The young, wide bucks get harvested quickly. The others get a walk and get to grow up. Where I used to see plenty of young 120-130 inch deer, I now see maybe 25% of those types compared to pre AR's. I used to see the occasional 140 inch deer and even the rare "trophy" over 160 inches. Now I'm seeing mature 6 points and basket 8's.

Though I held off my judgement for a few years, the last two years have quickly made me realize that AR's are awful for my area if the intended goal was to grow deer with larger antlers. Just the opposite has occurred.